Just before Christmas I was given the great chance to work with Alexis Marie Chute to help launch the cover of her latest book, Above the Star. I’ve always said that if I was going to use my Instagram account to do something like this that it would only be for products or services that I would enjoy/use myself. As soon as I read the synopsis for Alexis’ book I was excited by the narrative. Above the Star is the first in a new trilogy of novels The 8th Island Trilogy and brings together some unlikely heroes in a strange fantasy realm. I’m going to use this post to explain more about the book and Alexis herself in the hope that I can introduce more people to this new work. I will be helping to reveal the book’s cover art on my Instagram feed on January 10th and, until then, have been given the chance to offer a free copy of the book to one lucky person. If, after you’ve learnt about the book, you’re interested in winning then head to the Motherbooker Instagram feed to find our more information. For now, if you like great fantasy epics then read on to find out more about Above the Star.

Book Description:
When frumpy senior citizen Archie goes in search of his missing son in the Spanish Canary Islands, he stumbles upon a higher mission: to locate a magical cure for his ailing fourteen-year-old granddaughter, Ella. Using a portal-jumping device called the Tillastrion, Archie and a stone-headed creature named Zeno are transported to the magnificent yet terrifying island of Jarr-Wya in a connected realm. Unbeknownst to them, Ella and her strong-willed mother, Tessa, accidentally stowaway on this not-so-secret quest.What they find on Jarr-Wya is an island tortured by a wicked Star anchored in the sea. There, a three-way battle for dominion rages between the stone-wielding Bangols, the fiery Olearons, and the evil Millia sands. When Ella is captured, her wit and resourcefulness emerge as she fights against all odds to survive. An enchanted river on another part of the island exposes Tessa’s long-buried secrets and forces her to confront her broken marriage and confusing new love triangle. She and Archie—with the help of a company of peculiar allies—track Ella and seek to unravel the terrible mystery of her cure. A mesmerising, stay-up-all-night adventure of three unlikely heroes, Above the Star reminds us that no matter how young, or how old, bravery transforms our lives and the fates of the worlds around us.Doesn’t that sound amazing? There is so much potential here. I love the fact that one of main heroes is a grandfather because, as we know from Gandalf in LOTR and Miss Marple, old people are always handy to have around during difficult times. Then 14 year old Ella just sounds like a great little heroine who excites every feminist bone in my body. I mean this sounds like all the kind of fantasy that I love: you know bits of Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, even Terry Gilliam. I can see this being turned into a fantastic film and, despite not having read it yet, am already trying to cast the film in my head. I’m so glad Alexis introduced me to her work. I’ve included a bit of information about her Alexis herself below and included links to her website and social media if you feel like learning more. For now, I’ll finish this but I’ll see you on January 10th for the big reveal.Author Bio:Alexis Marie Chute is the author of The 8th Island Trilogy, with the first book, Above the Star (Spark Press), to be released June 2018. She also wrote the award-winning, bestselling memoir Expecting Sunshine: A Journey of Grief, Healing and Pregnancy After Loss (She Writes Press, 2017). Alexis is a distinguished artist, photographer, filmmaker, and motivational speaker. She has her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Art and Design from the University of Alberta and her Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Alexis has been named an “Emerging Canadian Photographer” by Photo Life Magazine, a “Top 40 Under 40” by Avenue Magazine, and was awarded the John Poole Award for Promotion of the Arts. She is also the director-producer of An award-winning feature film accompanying her memoir, also called Expecting Sunshine. Her writing has been widely published in places such as TIME Motto, Today’s Parent, PhotoED, Scary Mommy, and WestWord Magazine. Her artwork is represented by the AR&S Gallery at the Art Gallery of Alberta. Alexis loves canoeing, paddle boarding, being creative with her three living kids, and watching Big Brother of which she is an aspiring contestant. She lives in the frosty city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Social Media links:Website:www.AlexisMarieChute.comWebsite:www.AboveTheStar.com Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/AlexisMarieProductionsIncTwitter: @_Alexis_Marie https://twitter.com/_Alexis_MarieInstagram: @alexismariechute https://www.instagram.com/alexismariechute/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/user/AlexisMarieChute

Share this:

Like this:

LikeLoading...

Related

Published by Murdocal

Who is Murdocal? A casual critic who is a little bit too obsessed with pop culture. A young woman who swears and rants much more than she knows she should whilst trying to make her way in an adult world she isn't prepared for. A not as recent as she'd like literature graduate who, between job applications and subsequent rejections, has turned to the internet to fight the boredom and review the shit out of everything.
"Maybe, just maybe, I'm the faller. Every family has someone who falls, who doesn't make the grade, who stumbles, who life trips up. Maybe I'm our faller."
View all posts by Murdocal